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Ph.D. - Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership- Higher Education Administration

Take your career in higher education to the next level with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Administration.

This terminal degree prepares students for positions of leadership and administration who intend to continue to advance scholarship through research. The degree is composed of core courses in educational leadership, higher education courses and electives, and an in-depth series of research courses that prepare students to conduct theoretical research for their dissertation. The program prepares scholars for service as college and university professors, educational administrators, government or foundation officers, or independent researchers and practitioners.

Our mission is to prepare intellectually curious, socially just higher education leaders and scholars committed to anti-racism and other equitable practices to improve post-secondary teaching and learning environments. Learn more about our vision and program outcomes

Requirements

Ph.D. students are required to complete a residency requirement of nine credit hours each term for two consecutive terms.

Curriculum

Doctoral students in the Higher Education Administration program complete a 69 semester course hour program. 

Students will be required to take classes in four main areas prior to starting their dissertation: 

  • Core leadership component
  • Research component
  • Concentration component including required curriculum courses
  • Cognate component designed in conjunction with the student's advisor 

Graduates of the Ph.D. program should develop scholarship to conduct original research and to interpret and communicate the results of such research to various constituencies in education and other human services. See the Ph.D. - EPPL - Higher Education Administration Program of Studies for more details. 

Questions or Inquiries?

Contact us at [[graded,graded@wm.edu]] or (757) 221-2317.

Download Program Fast Facts (PDF)